Do welders need a license in Louisiana?

No statewide license is required for welders in Louisiana. Most employers expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW), and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification.

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Welder in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Louisiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,250. Employment concentration in Louisiana is about 2.64 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for welders in Louisiana?

Louisiana currently employs approximately 13,690 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Louisiana welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $62,250 ($29.93/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 13,690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 15.8% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,250 ($29.93/hr)
25th percentile: $50,680 per year
75th percentile: $77,310 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $81,750 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,810 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 13,690
Versus national median: 15.8% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.64 - this occupation is more concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Louisiana employs about 13,690 welders earning a median $62,250 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No statewide license is required; most welders train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Compare Welder Schools in Louisiana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Southwest Mississippi Community College	64.8	$4,080 in-state / $6,780 out-of-state	$27,408	56%	Yes*	95 mi
2	Pearl River Community College	52.2	$3,700 in-state / $6,100 out-of-state	$43,603	37%	Yes*	69 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	51.3	$4,250 in-state / $7,850 out-of-state	$44,103	48%	Yes*	80 mi
4	River Parishes Community College	46.0	$4,079	$62,593	30%	Yes*	54 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Fletcher Technical Community College	45.6	$4,219	$53,749	30%	Yes*	47 mi
6	Nunez Community College	44.3	$4,255	$48,555	27%	Yes*	7 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Baton Rouge Community College	43.7	$4,321	$45,313	31%	Yes*	72 mi
8	Delgado Community College	41.7	$4,279	$48,141	24%	Yes*	3 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Northshore Technical Community College	41.6	$4,299	$37,814	40%	Yes*	26 mi
10	South Louisiana Community College	40.6	$4,210	$45,336	30%	Yes*	120 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Louisiana employs approximately 13,690 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,250 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 2.64x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 45,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Welder in Louisiana, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Louisiana): $62,250 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Louisiana

How to become a Welder in Louisiana? Louisiana does not require a state license for welders, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths into the welder field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Louisiana? No state license is required, but certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification are expected by most employers.

What do welders earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for welders in Louisiana is $62,250 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,810 and experienced professionals can earn $81,750 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Louisiana

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Louisiana training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Louisiana that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Earn an industry certification. While Louisiana does not require a statewide license, earn AWS Certified Welder (CW) to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Welder Certification Options in Louisiana

Louisiana does not require a state license to work as a welder. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for welders include:

AWS Certified Welder (CW)
OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification

For more information, visit the American Welding Society (AWS) ³. Contact training programs in Louisiana for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Louisiana

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Louisiana’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Apprenticeship
Address: 1001 N. 23rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 342-7820
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers wages in Louisiana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Baton Rouge	3,690	$78,170	$72,430	$49,480	$92,270
New Orleans-Metairie	2,000	$63,270	$65,370	$45,520	$82,600
Lafayette	1,860	$57,750	$57,600	$39,110	$76,030
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	1,350	$56,990	$56,400	$40,000	$74,580
Lake Charles	970	$72,920	$68,670	$50,190	$88,110
Shreveport-Bossier City	910	$63,610	$62,780	$41,720	$79,090
Monroe	420	$51,870	$54,450	$42,250	$70,660
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	330	$60,810	$56,410	$30,960	$75,390
Alexandria	230	$64,490	$62,310	$40,900	$83,510
Hammond	60	$58,490	$58,750	$38,000	$79,790

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for welders in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 13,690 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Louisiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Louisiana. You can also contact the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Louisiana is $62,250, which is $11,250 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
American Welding Society (AWS): https://www.aws.org/certification/ ↩︎
Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division: http://www.laworks.net/ORS_websponsorsearch.asp ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)